I think Jonathan's words are understated. "Science" -- institutional science, scientists, academia, academics, 'experts' and professional bodies have failed in their roles.
Their failures have been obvious to 'lay' people for a very long time. But observing it was met with intransigence & hostility.
It was as though many academics/etc thought it their *entitlement* to make certain judgements about the world, society and its future, unchallenged.
It was as though many academics/etc thought it their *entitlement* to make certain judgements about the world, society and its future, unchallenged.
Among those failures were:
* sober reflection on peers' alarmist, extreme claims;
* to observe itself as an interested party in debates & check its own power-seeking,
* to identify the ideology of green political movements,
* to bring reason to the public sphere.
* sober reflection on peers' alarmist, extreme claims;
* to observe itself as an interested party in debates & check its own power-seeking,
* to identify the ideology of green political movements,
* to bring reason to the public sphere.
One consequence of those failures, now, are that we have a defacto state broadcaster which has abolished debate about the most important policy area from transmissions, which instead broadcasts the words of a nonagenarian doomsaying VO artist and a teenage truant as authorities.
Meanwhile, "academics", from academic institutions were allowed to develop political strategies, to go on the offensive in political wars, to actively seek for the removal of peers from the campus and lobby for the removal of political enemies from the public sphere.
For instance, using the resources of the @royalsociety, its past presidents and its PR staffers have intervened in political debates, to take a categorically ideological position, and to fight for it, not using fact or reason, but institutional prestige as a weapon.
@royalsociety That sets a precedent for other academic institutions. Sure enough, "research" organisations -- semi autonomous enterprises within university campuses -- were created using funding from ideologically-motivated benefactors. Super wealthy people were able to 'greenwash' influence.
@royalsociety Lords May, Turner, Stern (among others) have also had political influence over the research budget agenda, shaping the ideology of the campus and its relationship to government. Research councils openly state commitment to 'sustainability'.
@royalsociety But what if your research is critical of the sustainability (i.e. ideological) agenda?
Academics have let this happen, under their noses, and above their heads. Anyone pointing it out was the problem.
Plenty more I could say, but I have code to fix -- no grants for me!
Academics have let this happen, under their noses, and above their heads. Anyone pointing it out was the problem.
Plenty more I could say, but I have code to fix -- no grants for me!
@royalsociety PS.
You think I'm making it up about academia?
You think that I'm challenging people who know much more than me, whose level of expertise & depth of understanding I can never reach?
You think I'm making it up about academia?
You think that I'm challenging people who know much more than me, whose level of expertise & depth of understanding I can never reach?
